30th Anniversary Guardians Commemorative Book - Book - Page 143
IMPROVING
HUMANITY
Although we don’t have
a personal connection to
the Holocaust, as Jews
we are committed to
tikkun olam: our obligation to behave
ethically and to repair the world. So
when we considered the legacy we
could leave, we wanted to make a
difference in the world forever. We
believe the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum is an institution
of historical importance that improves
humanity for everyone. Supporting it
in perpetuity allows us to create
maximum impact.
The Museum’s displays make the
enormity and brutality of the Holocaust
so tangible and real. The sheer
quantities of artifacts—piled-up shoes,
suitcases, and fillings—shake you to your
core. Being immersed in actual human
stories makes you imagine enduring
such events yourself and facing
heartbreaking choices. This approach
is so effective in communicating the
Museum’s message and deepening
visitors’ level of understanding. You
can’t help but walk out feeling like a
different person or that your view of
the world has changed.
After undergoing this transformation,
Museum visitors carry its message to
their own circles of influence, creating
a ripple effect. The Museum attracts
people from diverse walks of life,
races, ages, and cultural backgrounds.
You don’t have to be Jewish or have a
family member who experienced the
Holocaust to appreciate the enormity
of the horror and its effect on the world.
That’s why it’s so important to ensure
the Museum endures and enables
everyone who walks in its doors—
physically or virtually—to hear those
stories, see the evidence, and respond.
Once people learn about the Holocaust,
maybe they’ll be more likely to
take action when they see tragedies
occurring, such as the plight of the
Rohingya in Burma/Myanmar. These
types of horrific events have occurred
throughout history. Why wouldn’t
ethnic cleansing or some type of
genocide be a concern 200 years from
now? That’s why we feel compelled to
secure the future of this institution so
that it continues to develop innovative
programs and teach these important
lessons forever.”
SAFEGUARDING TRUTH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS l 141
